Xue Jingyun stepped into Changning Palace and saw a slender figure standing there.
He hurried forward, took off his cloak, and draped it over Xue Zining. "A Ning, the frost is heavy in late autumn. You shouldn't always wait for me here…"
"You're back." She looked up at Xue Jingyun, his face etched with the chill of wind and frost.
"A Ning, come inside." He stepped forward and supported Xue Zining as they walked into the hall.
"I'm fine. I just wanted to see you return," she said.
Xue Jingyun was slightly taken aback. The words he intended to speak suddenly caught in his throat.
Xue Zining looked at his preoccupied expression, poured him a cup of tea, and handed it over. "Something happened in the Northern Frontier, didn't it?"
Xue Jingyun looked up and saw her clear, bright eyes. At that moment, he couldn't bring himself to lie to her. After a long pause, he nodded. "A Ning, you know everything?"
Xue Zining nodded, her hand holding the teacup trembling slightly. "I went to see Wen Nuan."
"Wen Yuxi's whereabouts are currently unknown," Xue Jingyun could only tell her the truth.
Xue Zining fell silent. She took a sip of the warm tea, and her stomach felt a little warmer. Seeing Wen Nuan today had indeed shocked her greatly.
The once enchanting and alluring guardian of the Thousand Pleasures Tower had been tortured into such a state. Fortunately, Wen Nuan was still alive. As long as she was alive, that was enough.
Xue Feng was taking care of Wen Nuan.
"Yan Zhao, you go. You don't need to worry about me." She looked up at the man before her. She knew that Yan Zhao's only worry was her. If she appeared to put his mind at ease, he could go to the Northern Frontier with peace of mind.
"A Ning…" Xue Jingyun looked at A Ning, who was pretending to be at ease for him, and his heart ached. His A Ning was about to give birth, yet he could not be by her side to accompany her.
He was an incompetent husband.
Xue Zining reached out and clasped his hand. "Go and bring Wen Yuxi back, but the premise is that you must return safely as well. Don't worry about me, Yan Zhao. I am the ruler of Changning. I can protect myself."
"A Ning, I might not be by your side when you give birth," his voice was a little hoarse.
"I know…"
"A Ning, I really don't want to leave you…" He wanted to witness the arrival of their child into this world.
"Yan Zhao, go. Wen Yuxi is waiting for us to bring him back. I can't accompany you, but I believe you can bring him back."
"I will, A Ning."
"Just, I want you to return unharmed," she looked at him, her clear eyes holding a hint of reluctance to part.
"I will. I'll listen to everything A Ning says."
Xue Zining stepped forward and placed his hand on her belly. "Listen, she's moving."
He leaned his ear closer. He heard a thumping sound. He cooperated by gently tapping. "Don't bother your mother…"
Whether it was his words or not, the sound disappeared.
"A Ning, I can't bear to leave you…" He hugged her waist and rested his head on her chest.
"Don't worry about me. Didn't you summon the Flower King and the Cold King back to the capital?"
Xue Jingyun nodded. "They are people I trust to a certain extent. They won't harm you. I can be certain of that."
"Yan Zhao, don't be afraid. I'll be fine. Go and do what you need to do. Bring Yan Zhi back."
"Alright, A Ning, I promise you, I will bring him back safely…"
The next day
Xue Zining woke up and found that the person in the bed was gone. She quickly called for Yun Weishu.
Yun Weishu hurried in from outside and came to the bedside, asking, "Your Majesty, you're awake?"
Xue Zining nodded and asked, "Where is he?"
Yun Weishu knew who the Empress was referring to and said, "His Majesty the Cloud Emperor left before dawn."
"Help me get ready," Xue Zining got out of bed.
After getting ready, she donned a flowing gown of a water-sky hue, draped a cloak over her shoulders, and then walked out of Changning Palace.
Outside the palace stood a man in dark robes. His figure was cast long by the morning light.
Hearing footsteps, he turned around, saw her, smiled, and walked forward, bowing his hands. "Does Your Majesty intend to leave the palace?"
Xue Zining nodded.
"This subject will escort you."
"Thank you, Flower King," Xue Zining said politely, but then unceremoniously got into the carriage.
Hua Yunjin sat in the driver's seat and drove the carriage away.
The carriage finally stopped. Xue Zining lifted the carriage curtain, and a hand reached in. After a moment's hesitation, she placed her hand on it.
After getting out of the carriage, she discovered they were on a hilltop, surrounded by an endless expanse of forest.
Hua Yunjin said, "His Majesty the Cloud Emperor has not yet reached this place, but I believe the view here is the best."
Xue Zining nodded. "Thank you."
Hua Yunjin was slightly startled. He looked up at the Empress, only to find that she was already looking down.
His heart felt a little unaccustomed, an indescribable feeling. Once upon a time, the Empress had stood here shoulder to shoulder with him, but back then, her gaze was filled with him. Now, her gaze held no trace of him, only the figure of someone else.
He lowered his gaze. So many years had passed. He thought he had adapted and could let go, but he found it was still futile. Just standing by her side, he couldn't help but compare.
But it had all passed. He had chosen to let go, chosen his path. Looking back on this journey, he couldn't say whether it was regret or remorse. Perhaps this was good too. At least he could look at her so unreservedly.
As long as she was happy, that was enough.
He saw her eyes were clear and bright as she turned her gaze downwards. Xue Jingyun rode past on his horse. Perhaps sensing her gaze, he turned back. On his refined and handsome face, his eyes were filled with her image.
He did not approach, she did not go down. Everything was understood without words.
As the figure disappeared into the distance, Xue Zining withdrew her gaze and said, "Let's go back!"
Hua Yunjin reached out his hand. When her hand rested on his, he realized her hand was very cold, so cold.
He secretly activated his internal energy to dispel the chill from her.
"Thank you." Xue Zining also felt his thoughtfulness.
Getting back into the carriage, Xue Zining's tears fell onto the back of her hand. She didn't want anyone to see her vulnerable moments.
Outside the carriage, Hua Yunjin still heard the faint sobbing from within.
He lowered his eyes, his heart feeling empty. He was no longer the only one in the Empress's heart. His place had been taken by someone else.
He gave a faint smile. One only realizes the value of something when it is lost, but it was too late. All he could do was stay by her side, protect her, and wait for the person in her heart to return, to hand her over to Xue Jingyun safely.
"Xue Jingyun is such a capable person, nothing will happen to him," he said softly.
The sound from inside the carriage stopped. "I know."
The carriage suddenly stopped.